Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-18
AN EXPENSIVE HOME.
THE COST OF A CONGRESSMAN'S
STAY IN WASHINGTON.

rhe Sore Perplexities of a Newly Pledged
Conyressman-A Serious Problem in FL
nance-Cheap Living ip Baltimore-An
Ex-Msmber's Experience.
The Washington correspondent met at
Wizards q newly fedged Democratic con-
from one of the northern states,
who had peregrinated to the national capital
to obtain quarters for himself and family,
and, at the same time, brush up things bit
at the several departments, looking after
fourth class postmasterships and the like, and
making acquaintance with the various Off
eials. He had been roaming all over the city |
armed with a formidable list of houses to |
rent, furnished and unfurnished, but, after |
several days experience, found himself as far |
off from accomplishing the immediate pur- |
pose of his visit as when he first started out |
on this errand. He was by no means in a |
happy frame of mind, and unburdened him |
self freely regarding his disappointments.
"Here am" calculated the congressional
tyro, ''sorely perplexed. | have surrendered
a lucrative law practice and a comfortable
home in exchange for uncertain congress
sional honors and no end of hard work for
the pitiful salary, in Washington at least, of
5000 year. | have a large family, from
whom separation for six or eight months
would be intolerable. | am indisposed to
crowd them in the wretched quarters Of the
average boarding house, and my salary does
not permit me to place them at a respectable
hotel can procure the necessary hotel ac-
commodation at $3.50 per month, but that
would leave me only S166 per month where
with to meet the expenses of laundry,
clothes, car fares and other ineidentals, so
that at the end of the month we would be
financially strapped and possibly in debt.
CANNOT UNDERSTAND IT.
"Here is a list of ehgibly situated furnished
houses for which rent is asked all the way
from $50 to 1900 month. Suppose took
the cheapest, could not market and run the
house in addition TO rent for less than 500
per month, living decently and returning
| hospitality, and that outlay would leave us
comparatively penniless l do not see how
congressman having families get along ON
their salaries at Washington prices, unless
they live abjectly in rooms. OF course, those
who take no family with them can make two
ends meet, but then they must keep up two
establishments, one here and the other at
home, and in the latter event must separate
| from wife and children. This is not the life
l desire to lead, and cannot imagine how
congressman of limited means manage, if
they pay their bills to support themselves
and families on their salaries, taking into
consideration the almost endless expenses to
which they are subjected at Washington.
Possibly somebody can let me into the secret
and initiate me into the mysteries
There is no doubt that the large influx Of
wealthy people, who have recently adopted
Washington as winter headquarters, erected
handsome mansions, and plunged headlone
into society dissipations of the most extrava
giant character, has had the effect of increas
ing the expenses of ordinary domicile at tn,
national capital A reasonably respectabl,
E house rents all the way from $500 to 81, so
per year, unfurnished, and houses in tn,
fashionable quarter rent freely at highe
: rates Marketing here is not more expensiv
than the average of the other cities, and We
it is higher than at Baltimore and Philadel
phia Strange to relate house rents at Balti
more are vastly cheaper than at W ashington
i and for $40 or $50 per month better an
: more completely furnished residence can b
). readily rented in Baltimore than twice tha
. amount would obtain i'll Washington |
+ fact, palatial mansions can be bad i'll Bait
more, in excellent neighborlIouds, for lie.
than 500 per annum
AN EX-NEaBER's EXPERIENCE.
The only disadvantage which operat,
. against Baltimore as being utilized as Il
residence adjunct of Washington is the di
| tance of forty miles, or eighty miles dali
u uavcl going and coming. And yet it wou
/ pay not only congressman, hSt departmel
II employees to reside in that city, the drawbaC
! being the fatigue of travelling more than Il
4 time consumed or the additional expense
railroad fare. Counting cheap house rent al
marketing, and offsetting by railroad far
and time consumed, there is nevertheless
good margin in favor of Baltimore. On the
\ accounts members of congress who are Il
!. disposed to devote all their time to society
J dulgences can live on their salaries and Sa
= something by domiciling at Baltimore, but
a rule they prefer to ''go broke at Washir
nv ton.
IN An ex-member of congress, who had bare
mt sufficient money left to pay railroad ia
~ home after the close of the last congre
n narrating his experience in living in a fl
nished house, gave the following account
!, is how he had made big mistake: Il reni
rk sparsely furnished house at 81 900 per ye
from Oct l, 1885, to April l. 1887, ninett
months, at SsS.3S per month, total
$1,5S3.27 The house unfurnished was
IN worth more than $50 per month; in fac
J" could have rented better one for $40
Capitol hill, but that neighborhood was
Ii fashionable enough for my family. But
es $50 per month the nineteen months r
would be $3.50, and, therefore, l paid S5S;;
rent of the old, rickety furniture and ba
- worn carpets
II WIS obliged to purchase tableware
linen and likewise bought several article.
n furniture wherewith to make the house
cent. Now, would have bought more
better furniture than was in that house
less than the amount l paid for its ninet
on months rent, and at the end of my {.
'nS could have sold it at auction for 10 per q
less, 50 that l would have realized at i
$500 making the rent or use of the furnit
IN. ;as cost not over 500 The furniture could h
ner been purchased on the inStallment plan,
J, C. third down and the balance on monthly
onn stallments of not more than 81. As il
och have paid more toan the value of the fu
ture in rent and have nothing to show 70
- My advice to members of congress depen,
OH their salaries and having families
them is to rent a modest priced house
furnish it, for cash if they have it, other
on tie lustalllIient plan. kansas
IL, Times
Dirtiest Place in America